Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-11-08
Singular story.


Two young men giving the names Of Ed.
ward d. Currau and John II. Sciever, asked
for lodging at the First Precinct Station,
Washington, Saturday night. The station
keeper was about to lock them up for the
night when Sergeant Boyle, struck By the
intelligent faces of the youths, called them
back and began to question them. Curran
said that he was telegraph operator, eieh-
Teen years DID, and is employed at 1876
Broadway, New York, in the Produce Ex-
change. The other lodger said he wassev-
enteen years old. Both came originally
from Atlanta, Ga. The Curran boy stated
that be had brother living there They
left New York October 9Th for Atlanta and
on reaching Baltimore they found that they
had several hours to lay over and they left
the Union depot 10 see little of the city.
While sauntering around they net natty
dressed young man, who asked them if they
were not strangers They replied that they
ere from Atlanta, when he said that his
people were from that place, but be had
lived in Baltimore for long time. The
nan got from them their story of returning
home and other facts connected with their
hves, when he told them he was the owner
of yecht was about 10 make trip 10 Nor
folk and invited them to 90 that far with
him. The idea was eagerly caught at by
the boys, and theg started out to take view
OF The boat Upon getting on board the
captain was introduced as Captain w. NJ.
Phillips and the mate as L. E. Adams, who
seemed rejoiced at their visit The patty
young man made some excuse and
went ashore, and, upon invitation from
the captain, the two young Georgiaps
went down below TO further inspect the
boat. When they agaiu appeared on deck
the sloop or yacht was we'll out in the bay,
and with all saiIs spread, was rapidly
leaving Baltimore behind. Upon asking
for an explanation the TWO boys were fierce
IL attacked by the captain, who struck them
with Delaying pin, and then had them
thrust down into the hold. They remained
there for two days, when they were pulled
out and ordered to go TO work dredging oys
ters. They then realized that they were
kidnapped" for the purpose Of being made
to work on an oyster schooner: and that
they had to do everything in order or sub
NIT to the most cruel treatment from the
captain. They found that the namo OF the
soop was Annie n. Haywood, an0 Jos
Smith, the co!ored steward, Told them that
they were in Huuger's river near the little
tcwn Of Grape This young men found that
they were closely watched, and had no way
TO escape, for when eff dredging the captain
sat on the side Of the sloop ready to shoot
in case they tried to gel away The stew
ard Smith spoken of ABOVE was taken sick,
an6 became totally unable to do any work,
and, being asked by The captain if be could
throw the dredge, said be didn't know but
would try He cid 30 and made @ bad fail-
ure, for which the captain struck him i'll the
breast with club, breaking his ribs in three
| places, then threw him down the hold, where
he iav without treatment fer two days.
On the third day the captain ordered him
out, and in attempting to get up he tainted
away, which so exasperated the captain that
he threw bucket of water over him. That
| afternoon the captain hoisted the steward
out, placed him on his dory, and, getting in
himself, said he was going to Crapo for med
ica assistance for the sick man. He return
| ed that evening, but was alone. Three days
after this the captain and mate got into q
| drunken stupor, and the boys seized the op-
portun'ty OF slipping overheard. started
shoreward, and after several msheps reach
ed it and made their way to Crapo. In that
! little town Curran sought out the telegraph
/ operator, and to him related his case, who
| financially helped him. The operator said
that the captain of the sloop never came
ashore with the sick nan, and the inference
is that the captain drowned him.
TIE story of their escape is very thrilling
| They were compelled to swim mile before
reaching laud, and then lost all their cloth
ing. The timely aid of telegraph operator
at Crapo saved the boys from terrible sus.
pense of mind Investigation so far has sus'
tanned the boys stories.